Plus Quilts
by Cassandra McKee (@exactlycassandra)
Doesn’t everyone have a fabric in their stash that doesn’t spark your joy? This challenge is to make a quilt you love -- with a fabric you don’t. A plus quilt is a great pattern to play with a variety of fabrics.
I love a plus quilt! I am going to share how I make a plus quilt using 5” squares because it’s a simple way to make a 36” baby quilt, and you probably already have some 5” squares to use.
I use 64 5” squares to make an 8x8 grid that finishes at 36”. If you use an 8x8 grid, you get this nice with four “corners.” Symmetry!
To make this version, you will need:
8 complete pluses (8 x 5 squares each)
4 4-piece partial pluses (4 x 4 squares each)
8 single squares
NOTE: I counted the “pluses” to write this tutorial. Usually I just go for it, and you can, too! I like to have at least 5 squares each of about 10 prints. I start with more than 64 squares because I like to move the colors and prints around. Make sure you have a good mix of values!
I start from the middle and work out, because I like to make the clump of “complete” pluses first, and then fill in the odd shapes with my leftovers. The basic pattern to remember is: BOTTOM (of plus #1), TOP (of plus #2), BODY (3 of plus #3). Repeat! Do you see it?
Make it your own!
Use a “focus” fabric for the centers of one or more of the pluses -- I’ve done this when I want to use a fun fabric but don’t have enough to make a whole “plus” -- like this one
Create negative space by using a solid to make pluses in the background.
Forget symmetry and start with a different shape in the corner. In this version my pattern goes TOP, BOTTOM, ACROSS and I have a three-piece plus in the top left corner.
Do you want to get FANCY? The “sparkle punch” pattern is basically a plus quilt made with improv stars! Here’s mine made in holiday fabrics.
Do you need an actual pattern? No worries! Try this free one.
There are lots of variations out there, including this lovely pattern by former DCMQG member Katie Blakesley.